Wednesday, October 30, 2013

"I Was Blind"

When I was twelve
or thirteen, I became blind.I woke up one morning unable to open my eyes.
I could see light, but I couldn’t see. The pain was terrible. I had sunburned
my eyes.

I was very afraid, because I thought I might never see
again. I even thought my blindness might be God’s will, since my mother had
taught in a school for the blind, and she would be able to help me to learn
Braille.

Two days later, my sight was coming back, and the pain
lessened. I was relieved and very happy.

_____________________________________

In John 9, we read of
a man who had never seen, blind from birth. In an effort to understand, the
disciples asked Jesus, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was
born blind?

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his
parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him (verses 2-3). The disciples showed their faith that
Jesus would know the answer, and He did. There are two very important truths
here: that physical handicaps and congenital defects are not necessarily results of sin, and that God will be glorified
through weakness. He has a purpose in every life. In this case, Jesus would do
something amazing.

Jesus then makes mud from saliva and dust and puts it on
the blind man’s eyes. (Have you ever had mud in your eye? It hurts. It
irritates. With Jesus’ touch, it heals!)

Jesus told the man, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by
interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing (verse 7). Jesus asked the man to do something. Jesus
could have healed him outright—with a touch or with a word. But Jesus wanted the
man to respond.

So it is with salvation. Jesus
provides salvation for all people through His death on the cross for sins, His
burial, and resurrection. But, no one is saved unless he personally does
something. He has to receive the gift. But as many as received him, to them gave he
power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12). We are cleansed by His blood, but we must
accept that cleansing.

The blind man obeyed. And the neighbors started talking. “Isn’t
this our neighbor? Isn’t this the blind man who always sat over there, begging?
It sure looks like him.” The healed man wiped away any doubt. He said, I am he (verse 9).

And so, the questions start coming. The most important was, How were thine
eyes opened? I absolutely love his simple
testimony: A man that is called Jesus
made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam,
and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight (verses 10b-11).

The way it was. Simple. Uncomplicated. This is what
happened.

Sometimes, I think we complicate our own testimonies. The
gospel, though, is so simple—the death of Jesus for our sins, His burial, and
resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) What did Jesus do for me? What did Jesus
do for you? Tell it.

The healed man told his story.

They carted him off to the Pharisees, who asked him the
same question. They got the same simple answer. But, they had a problem. Jesus
had healed the blind man on the Sabbath day. They were not happy. According to
their law, making mud was “work.” So the Pharisees made a judgment: This man is not of
God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is
a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them (verse 16). These men judged the Son of God not to be of
God because He did a miracle!

Some blindness isn’t physical;
it’s worse. This was spiritual blindness.

So they went back to the man
and asked him what he thought of Jesus. He
said, He is a prophet (verse 17b). They decided to call his parents.

The Pharisees asked if he was
their son. His parents answered them and
said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what
means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he
is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself (verses 20-21). The Bible
tells us they answered this way because they were afraid of the Jews.

Don’t you find it strange that the Pharisees called a man’s parents? They didn’t believe an adult. They had to see if his parents
said he was born blind.

Notice how his parents let him act like an adult. They had prepared him to be a man and to
take responsibility for himself. Maybe this is a good lesson for us.

The Pharisees talk to the man again, and they say that Jesus
is a sinner. I love what happens next. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know
not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. Then said they to
him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I
have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again?
will ye also be his disciples? (verses
25-27) The formerly blind man was so exasperated with the Jewish leaders that,
after telling them a second time how Jesus healed him, he asks them if they also are
interested in being Jesus’ followers. (Is he implying that he is already a
disciple?)

Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but
we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow,
we know not from whence he is (verses
28-29). They chose Moses over Jesus Christ, the Law over the Messiah! They were
into religion but not receptive to grace.

The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a
marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened
mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a
worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began
was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If
this man were not of God, he could do nothing (verse 30-33). The man who had been blind was convinced.

But, the Pharisees didn’t see it that way. They said to
him,Thou wast
altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out (of the synagogue).

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had
found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe
on him?

And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is
he that talketh with thee (verses 34-36).

Look at the man’s response. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he
worshipped him. The blind man believed Jesus’ word. He also knew from
experience that Jesus could do miracles. He worshipped God.

And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world,
that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

Hearing that, some of the
Pharisees asked Jesus, Are we blind also?
(They asked the right question. They understood that Jesus was talking
about something bigger than physical blindness.)

Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no
sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth (verses 38-41).

The blind man was
blind two ways: physically and spiritually. He ended up seeing.

The Pharisees were
blind spiritually,and at least at this time, they were still blind—because
they hadn’t put their faith in Jesus.

I was sharing this passage with a new believer. She was so amazed that the Pharisees didn't understand (see) what Jesus had done for that man! It was so cool to see the blessing it was for her--and for me!

And yes, it was terrifying when I thought I couldn't see. I am an artist. I am very thankful not to have lost my sight.

Hi and welcome to In the Way! I explore many subjects, striving always to present them from a biblical viewpoint. Feel free to browse the tabs at the top for general categories. If you don't see what you're looking for, use the search button below. I'm a pastor's wife, mother of two, grandma, teacher, author, and blogger. I live in a quaint little village in the beautiful Basque region of northern Spain.

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Lou Ann is a young-thinking grandma with an infectious laugh. She rejoices in nature and other beautiful things--including people! She's an avid writer and practices several other artistic expressions, like singing when no one's listening, calligraphy, photography, and even "serious art." Lou Ann loves her Lord Jesus Christ, family, and her church.